Method of making a spring hanger



Aug. 16, 1932. H. MILLER 1,872,319

METHOD OF MAKING A SPRING HANGER Filed May 5, 19:50

17 INVENTOR.

Henry Miller A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES Y-P 'A TENTIoFFICE f? i HENRY MILLER, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, .AssIe Non'ro 4.0. sum: conPoBA'rroN,

or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A; conrorm'rron ornnw YORK V v METHOD or MAKING A SPRING HANGER Application filed May 5, 1930. Serial n ..44e,eo3.'

The present invention relates to a spring hanger for automobile frames.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and economical method of forming a sheet metal spring hanger for automobile frames.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of producing a spring hanger, as a unitary structure, from sheet metal.

Another object is to produce an inexpenslve spring hanger having characteristics of in creased strength per unit weight.

The invention resides in producing a unitary spring hanger of novel structure from of Fig. 4 to produce a forked spring hanger 11 having ears 17 and 18 spaced apart, in a a single piece of sheet metal.

The invention will be best understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a finished spring hanger made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a. top view of the spring hanger showing the method of attaching it to the *5 channel side bar of an automobile frame.

Fig. 4 is a view of a sheet metal blank showing the methods used in performing the preliminary shaping operations.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blank after it has been bent transversely on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the blank after it has been bent on a line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view of the blank after bending the same on line 77 of Fig. 4.

It is desirable, in the manufacture of automobile frames and parts therefor, to eliminate wherever possible, intricate and expen- 4 sive designs. Forged pieces, as a result, are

replaced by sheet metal pieces when it can be accomplished without sacrificing strength. The use of sheet metal eliminates heating of the parts, for sheet metal may be formed cold, and expensive forging dies are also eliminated. V

In carrying out the invention, a sheet metal blank of suitable width is cut by stamping or other means to form a piece 10, as shown 5 in Fig. 4, of more or less irregular shape springhanger 11 asshown inFigs. 1, 2,

and 3;

The segments 12" and 13 of the piece 10 are connected by an integral web 14. The blank ..10 is then bent transversely online.55 of Fig. 4 to offset the bases 15 and 16 of the F 4to form the ears 17 and 18 of the bracket, and to bring saidears into a substantially parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the shank 19, as shown in Fig. 6'.-

The web 14 isthen bent on the line 77 substantially parallel relationship.

The folded web 14 serves to stiffen and brace the spring hanger, its metallic grain structure being particularly well adapted to this purpose, by reason of the method of forming the web from a flat sheet.

The holes 20 and 21 for the spring bolt V Whichare formed in the cars 17 and 18are preferably punched during the preliminary forming of the blank. Likewise, the holes 22 and 23 in the shank 19 and hole 22 in the stub shank 24 are preferably formed by punching during thepreliminary operations, but it is not necessaryto the present invention that they be 'so formed. Rivet holes corresponding to the holes 22 and 23 areprovided in the side bar 25 of the frame. Rivets 26 and 27 are inlserted in the aligned holes in the spring hangerand frame and spread, thereby; firmly securing the spring hanger 11 to the metalsi de bar 25.

The forward end of the front spring is adapted to fit between the ears 17 and 18 of the bracket, and may be secured by a suitable spring bolt.

While the invention has been specifically set forth, .I claim all modifications within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The method of making a spring hanger for an automobile frame or the like which comprises providing a sheet metal blank, cutting the same to form a piece having a central longitudinal slit at one end andhaving forms a development of ithelfinisheld 50; May, 1930..

a non-central projection at the other, bend- 1 ing the piece'transversely at the closed end of the slit to form bases for the forked member, bending the piece transversely intermediate the bases and the slit end, and there'- after bending the blank 0n the longitudinal line of the slit to form a forked spring hanger.

, 2. The method of making an integral sheet metal spring hanger, which comprises cutting a sheet metal blank to form shank and bracket portions, slitting the bracket portion longitudinally to form segments of substantially the same dimensions, bending said seg: ments transversely to offset the same, and bending the blank on. the longitudinal line of the slit 'to'form'a' forked spring hanger.

3. The method of making a spring hanger for an automobile frame or the like which -jc0mprises providing a sheet metal blank having a single projection extending longitudinally from one end of the blank and a pair of projections extending longitudinally from the other end of the blank, bending the'blank on a line adjacent the bases of the pair of projections and extending transversely of the blank, bending the pair of projections on a line intermediate their ends and bases and substantially parallel to the first line, and

bending the blank about its longitudinal center line.

4. The method of making a spring hanger which comprises providing a sheet metal blank having a pair of projections extending longitudinally from one of the blanks and a single projection extending longitudinally from the other end of the blank in substantial alignment with one of said pair of projections, bending the blank on a line adjacent 'the'bases of'the pair of projections and extending transversely of the blank,

bending the pair of projections into a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the blank, on a line intermediate their ends and Y bases and substantially parallel to the first line, and bending the blank on its longitudinalcen-ter line. r

In witness whereof I have signed my name at Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

'HENRY MI LE this 3rd day of 

